IMDb >
A Great Day in Harlem (1994)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsA Great Day in Harlem (1994) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 13 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
24 February 1995 (USA) morePlot:
Art Kane, now deceased, coordinated a group photograph of all the top jazz musicians in NYC in the year 1958... more | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Oscar. moreUser Comments:
A "Great Day" plus a worthwhile bonus disc moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Quincy Jones | ... | Himself / Narrator | |
| Dizzy Gillespie | ... | Himself | |
| Sonny Rollins | ... | Himself | |
| Buck Clayton | ... | Himself | |
| Art Blakey | ... | Himself | |
| Hank Jones | ... | Himself | |
| Art Farmer | ... | Himself | |
| Johnny Griffin | ... | Himself | |
| Milt Hinton | ... | Himself | |
| Chubby Jackson | ... | Himself | |
| Scoville Browne | ... | Himself | |
| Felix Maxwell | ... | Himself | |
| Paula Morris | ... | Herself | |
| Taft Jordan Jr. | ... | Himself | |
| Everard Powell | ... | Himself |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
60 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishSound Mix:
StereoFilming Locations:
Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USAFun Stuff
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for A Great Day in Harlem (1994)Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Standing in the Shadows of Motown | Clerks. | The Spitball Story | Mystery in Swing | Wattstax |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Documentary section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |












Jean Bach does the seemingly impossible with "A Great Day in Harlem. She makes a 40-year-old B&W photograph come alive.
Art Kane's first photo assignment for Esquire magazine in 1958 must have been his own personal Everest. Get 50+ jazz musicians in one place at one time, stand across the street, point and shoot. Sure, no problem. But the cats came in droves, some of them having not yet gone to bed after a gig the night before. Some were probably nursing hangovers. But Kane captured a photo that is a cult icon, a time capsule of the heyday of hard bop, with many seminal figures from an earlier day standing proudly beside them.
The late great bassist, Milt Hinton, who is one of the warmest and most charming people interviewed, was also a fine photographer. His wife captured much of the Great Day with a color 8mm movie camera, and it's a treat to see the ensemble milling about on the street and taking their places for the final picture.
Many of the people in this photo are not and never were household names. But the musicians Jean Bach tracked down to give their reminiscences are quick to give them their due. They recognize their skill and talent and recall the personalities of their lesser-known counterparts. Perhaps those just getting into jazz will be motivated to seek out CDs by Benny Golson, Roy Eldridge and others by virtue of the "props" given them by their old buddies and bandmates.
The Bonus Disc is worth watching, if only for the segment on "copycat" photos, and there have been many. A restaging of the original photo is quite poignant. But nothing on it is filler: the jazzmen really did warm up to Jean Bach if they didn't already know her, and they ended up talking about everything.
This documentary was as great an idea as the Art Kane photo that inspired it. Highly recommended.